Can opener



July 19, 1955 e. e. SAPP 2,713,193

CAN OPENER Filed Jan. 19, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.6

Fig. 2

Fig. 5

, Gerald G. Supp INVEN TOR.

July 19, 1955 G. G. SAPP 2,713,198

CAN OPENER Filed Jan. 19, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gerald G. .Sapp

IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent (IAN OPENER Gerald G. Sapp, Burlington, N. Ci, as'signor of fifty per cent to Qharles A. Sapp, Sr'., Burlington, N. C.

Application January 19, 1954, Serial No.404,938

8 Claims. (Cl; 30-4) This invention relates generally to a can opener and pertains more particularly to a power driven can opener.

A primary object of this invention is to provide an improved form of can opener in which the opening process is afforded by mechanical means, preferably in the form of a movable blade member driven by an electric motor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mechanism of the character described which incorporates a novel drive mechanism for moving the blade member in one direction, the drive being interrupted at the end of the stroke of the blade member such that a return spring may return the blade member to an initial position.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved form of can opener in the form of an enclosed housing which is neat and compact in form and which will perform can opening operations with a minimum of effort on the operators part.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the can opener;

Figure 2 is a transverse section of the assembly shown in Figure l on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken through the assembly shown in Figure 4;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the plane of section line 4-4 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially along the plane of section line 55 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view similar to Figure 2, but showing a modified form of assembly.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that the can opener consists generally of a housing indicated by the reference character 10 having opposed side walls 12, a top 14, a bottom 16 and end Walls 18. The top wall 14 is provided with an opening bounded by the peripheral depending flange 20 and a receptacle 22 is secured to the bottom 16 of the housing and extends upwardly therefrom in spaced register disposition with respect to the flange 20 as will be seen most clearly in Figures 2 and 3. A cover member 24, hinged adjacent the upper edge of one of the side walls 12 by means of a pedestal 26 overlies the top Wall 14 and is provided at its free end with a downturned portion 28 engaged by a hinged latch member 30 secured to the opposite side Wall of the housing. An intermediate portion of the cover is enlarged as at 32 to overlie and cover the opening in the top wall 14 and the under surface of this portion is provided with a bracket 34 to which the socket member 36 is attached, the socket receiving a ball 38 of the pedestal member 40 such that the pedestal is universally Patented July 19, 1955 connected thereto. By pivoting the cover member 24 to a vertical position, an operator may place a can 42 within the receptacle 22 on the table 44 thereof, a compression spring 45 being provided between the table 44 and the bottom wall 16 of the housing such as to normally urge the can 42 outwardly of the housing. However, when the cover 24 is swung into the closed position and latched in place, the pedestal 40 will engage the top of the can and position the same at a predetermined height Within the housing. One side wall 12 is provided with a longitudinal track member 46 and an opposed track member 48 is secured to the top 14 by means of a depending bracket member 50, in the manner shown most clearly in Figure 2. It will be noted that the tracks 46 and 48 are disposed just below the top of the can 42 when the same 'is properly positioned within the housing after the cover 24 is latched in place A blade member 52 having a pointed cutting edge 54 has its opposed side edges received in the notches of the tracks 46 and 48 and is longitudinally slidable therein. The rear end of the blade member is provided with an upturned flange 56 to which a rack member 58 is rigidly secured, as by fasteners 60, see particularly Figure 4. The rack member 58 extends rearwardly from the blade member 52 and, as seen in Figure 5, is provided with upper and lower longitudinal grooves 62 and 64 respectively to receive the opposed legs 66 of the guide member 70. Thus, the blade and rack assembly is supported along the opposed edges of the blade member by the tracks 46 and 48 and by the guide member 70 in such a manner as to rigidly support the entire assembly as will be manifest.

A suitable support 72 is provided on the bottom wall 16 and an electric motor 74 is mounted thereon vertically in the manner shown most clearly in Figure 3. The drive shaft 76 of the motor extends upwardly therefrom and is provided with a pinion 78 meshing with the idler gear 80 secured to the shaft 82 which is suitably journaled in the top cover 14 of the housing. Also secured on shaft 82 is a partial gear member 84 having teeth 86 extending partially around the circumference, the remainder of the gear being cut away to provide a flat side as indicated by the reference character 88. The teeth 86 of gear 84 are enmeshed with the rack 58 in the manner shown most clearly in Figure 4.

The rack 58 is also provided with a lateral pin member 90 to which is connected one end of a flexible member 92, such as a cord or cable, the flexible member passing over a pulley 94 mounted on the bracket 96 secured to one end wall 18, the opposite end of the flexible member 92 being secured to the upper end of a tension spring member 98 Whose lower end is connected to a suitable fastening element such as hook 166 secured to the bottom wall 16 of the housing.

The operation of the device as thus far described is as follows: The cover 24 carries a suitable switch mechanism 102 adapted, upon closing of the cover member 24, to close a circuit to the motor '74 such that the pinion 78 and consequently the gear 84 are caused to rotate whereupon the rack 53 Will he urged to the left, as in Figure 4, and the blade member 52 will remove the top from an associated can 42. When the gear 84 has rotated to such a point as its teeth 36 are out of engagement with the rack 58, the blade assembly will be at the end of its stroke and will be returned to the initial position under action of the tension spring 98 as will be readily apparent. When the blade and rack assembly have been returned to their initial position by the spring 98, a switch 104 mounted on the side wall 12 adjacent the guide member 79 will be actuated by the switch block 106 carried by the rack 58 to shut oif the current to the motor 74 until such time as the cover 24 has been swung upwardly and returned to the latch position which will reactuate the'switch 102, as will be readily apparent. The switch 102 and the switch 104 may be interconnected with the motor 74 by a conventional three-wire arrangement.

Referring now more particularly to. Figure, 6, wherein a modified form of construction is shown, all the previously mentioned details of the assembly for actuating the blade member 52 are as previously described, the housing 108 being somewhat different from the previously described housing. The housing Hi8 includes a continuous top wall 11%, opposed side walls 112 and a bottom wall 114 as well as end walls 116. One side wall 112 is, provided with an opening 113v immediately adjacent he receptacle 12!}. The receptacle is of tubular configuration substantially as previously described, with, the exception that it is cut away as at 122 adjacent, the opening llfi so as to receive, a can 42 therein. The pedestal 124 in this instance is rigidly secured to the under surface of the. top. wall 110. A manually operated switch, not

shown, or other conventional control mechanism may be provided for suitable operation of this. form of the invention.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation, is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to'the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted, to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A can opening mechanism comprising a housing, a receptacle in said housing for holding a can, a trackway in said housing, a blade member having its opposite side edges received in said trackway for movement therein, means engageable with a can top for positioning the same in the path of movement of said blade member, means for moving said blade member in said trackway.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the last mentioned means includes an elongated rack secured to one end of said blade member, a motor mounted in said housing, and a gear member driven by said motor and engaged with said rack.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said rack is provided with longitudinal grooves on opposite sides thereof, a guide member secured to said housing having opposed leg portions received in said grooves.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the last mentioned means includes an elongated rack secured to one end of said blade member, a motor mounted in said housing, a gear member driven by said motor and engaged with said rack, and a, spring for returning said blade memher to an initial position.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said rack is provided with longitudinal grooves on opposite sides thereof, a guide member secured to said housing having opposed leg portions received in said grooves.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said housing is provided with an opening in its top above said receptacle, a cover for said opening hinged to said housing, a

compression spring in the bottom of said receptacle, and a pedestal depending from said cover for engagement with the top of a can. i

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said receptacle isof tubular configuration, said housing having an opening in one side wall adjacent said receptacle, said receptacle being cut away adjacent said opening, a companion, spring in the bottom of said receptacle and a pedestal depending from the top of said housing above said receptacle.

8. The combination of claim, 1 wherein the last mentioned means includes an elongated rack secured to one end of said blade member, a motor mounted in said.

housing, and a gear member driven by said motor and engaged with said rack, said gear member having teeth extending partially around its circumference, the remainder of said gear member being void of teeth.

No references cited. 

